Jesus, My Guitar & I...

  Hello friends, 5 weeks postpartum here! I'd love to share what worked for me and what didn't. It's a crucial time for every new mom because everything is new, and the adjustment to it all is real!  Hopefully these lists will help you get prepared for the big days ahead. Enjoy, What to pack in diaper bag:  Change of clothes  Portable changing mat  Diapers and wipes  Disposable baggies  Bottle  Diaper rash cream  Blanket  Rattle/musical toy Pacifier  Hand sanitizer  Weather stuff: Hat, glasses, sunscreen// hoodie, coat, beanie/mittens.  Bib and burp cloth Nursing cover  What to pack in hospital bag: Snacks  Change of clothes for you and partner Toiletries  Portable speaker  Water bottle Makeup bag  Face wipes/cleanser  Wallet  Phone charger For baby: Out-of-the-hospital outfit, blanket, diapers, wipes, burp cloth, hat, socks, mittens.  For mama during pregnancy:  Prenatal vitami...

  Hello friends, (My actual nursery) Note: I've updated this list as a now mom.  Here's the thing, it gets overwhelming to hear people tell you what you need for your baby. No one tells you about practicality, and everyone just assumes you have the space for all these things.  If you're a first time mama-to-be, or it's been a while since you've had a baby, or simply you're reading as food for thought and you have pregnant friends and upcoming showers to attend, these lists will help you get an idea of what moms and babies actually need!  The baby market nowadays is so modern and great! It's a good time to be a mom! From fancy pacifiers to the trendiest clothes, I feel like the following never get old, and are super important to have.  Also consider if you live in a compact place, such as a small house or apartment, you definitely want to keep your registry as basic as possible. I've also put together a list of items that aren't a necessity, but would...

Hello guys--thank you all for being patient!  Let's dig right into it. Relationships: With family: This has to do with the individual connections, maturity level and the dynamics of your family and your own with your husband. I know this particular point isn't a one size fits all situation. Some people live with their in-laws, or other family members.   Regardless of location or who you share your nest with, one thing I can tell you is you should not let anyone disturb with your inner peace, which can affect your baby and your emotions. If you feel threatened, mistreated, or unsafe, please speak up and try to reach out for help. Surround yourself with uplifting family members and avoid the toxic ones as much as you can.  With partner: Similar to my last point, during this time, you need all the support, kindness, and security from your partner, and nothing less. Remember you should not be tied up to anything and anyone that does harm to you. You should be cherished...

Why hello lovely world,  I've been wanting to write this for a while, but I finally feel I'm in a place where I'm decently knowledgeable to the point of not only serve as an encourager, but also answer a question or two.  I am almost 36 weeks and looking extremely pregnant. This journey has had more ups than downs for me. Honestly, I would actually have to think hard of what the downs are, which is good. Let me start off by saying this pregnancy has gone by way too fast, and it's been wonderful in lots of ways. I've gotten to know my husband as a future dad instead of just my partner & best friend,  I've learned that though life will never be the same,  also because of Covid, it's still as meaningful as you want to make it! And you should embrace the good, and also the ugly. A good attitude is key! For part 1, I thought I'd first make a list of items you should get, as well as foods.  Part 2 will be about relationships and mental/physical health.  ...

Evening everyone, Some of the reactions I first got, especially when we all went on quarantine, were along the lines of, "oh, I can only imagine being pregnant right now..."  Now, I don't want to give the wrong impression that it didn't affect me one bit, but also I wanna emphasize the fact that personally, there couldn't be a better time for me to be pregnant.  I was already 2 months pregnant when everything went down the drain, and being pregnant kept me sane. I couldn't cling to anything but God. I couldn't go out with friends, or shopping, but instead I had plenty of time to rest, eat, nap, walk,  adjust, do research on foods, lifestyle, and tips about this new stage of my life.  Being locked at home wasn't bad for me, mostly because if anything, I needed some time to myself. I was getting burnt out of the routine I had, and the only things I was looking forward to this year were my international trips. Since those didn't happen, now I had to s...

Why hello there!  Long time no see y'all! Let me tell you, I went back to work a couple of weeks ago now, and I am missing all that free time I had to blog whenever. Since that's not the case anymore, I will have to push myself to drop by every now and then :) I was thinking of skin products and makeup a few hours ago, and it occured to me to write about good habits both girls and guys should start in order to have more beautiful, clean skin. And then I thought there's more to that! Like unplugging, not checking social media all night, etc.  Anyways  here's some tips I actually force myself to always do before bed;  1. Brush teeth!! Please!! Going to the dentist ain't fun, and especially hearing bad news, so do your part! 2. REMOVE ALL MAKEUP! Okay gals, nighttime is the only time your skin can breathe really. If you're like me, who simply doesn't have any more spare time and cannot follow a 3 step skin cleaning routine, then we've already become best fr...

Hello, pandemic survivors! Just another day in the office, or should I say another day in yoga pants and on the couch? As I meditated on a few things in regards to relationships, I was reminded by a friend of mine about a book I let her borrow titled "The One," and as cliche as that sounds, and as much as the term "The One," has been overused, misused and misinterpreted by many, it still holds some kind of value, if seen for what it is meant to be. This pandemic has either brought you two closer, or apart. Let's just have the talk. My husband and I don't like to fight. We avoid fighting as much as we can. We feel it's not us, and it is something we never really allowed in our relationship. I would advice, if you and your partner are butting heads at the moment, give each other space, don't hold grudges, and talk when the time is right! These times bring up abnormal sensitivity, financial stress is on the rise, and surely no one likes to b...

I was about to dismiss my class on Thursday, March 12th when the flyers were given to me 5 minutes before the bell rang, it read:"School will be cancelled tomorrow." No reason given.  I knew the reason. As students asked me numerously why, I couldn't help myself but to keep it as normal as possible and say, "Don't worry, we will find out soon enough. In the meantime, enjoy the long spring break with an "extra day" off!"  I had a bad feeling about this. It didn't seem normal for school to be closed the day before spring break. Given everything that was going on in the media, I thought the wise thing to do was to pick up my keys, laptop, and planner from my classroom in case we didn't come back for a a while.  I wasn't even supposed to be teaching this week, I should have been in Europe with some of our students taking photos of the Big Ben, Stonehenge, The Eiffel Tour and L' Arc de Triomphe. This was devastating, I had been t...